Three suspected kidnapping kingpins believed to be responsible for abductions in the Bwari Area Council of the FCT have been apprehended by police officers from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the FCT command’s Anti-Violent Unit.
The arrested suspects, including one who allegedly carried out surveillance on people of commercial value, are Idris Ishiaku, aka Yellow, Bala Umar, and Dahiru Salisu.
They were among the 16 suspects presented by the Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, supported by the IRT Commander, yesterday in Abuja.
According to the Police, the kidnapping ring was busted after technology intercepted a conversation from Yellow notifying his crew that they had successfully kidnapped a wealthy public servant.
During the phone discussion, Yellow allegedly warned his gang mates that the government worker would not be released unless the family paid a N50 million ransom.
When asked where he came from and what he does, Yellow claimed he is from Kaduna but has rented a house in Bwari, where he works as a security guard and crops.
He stated that he participated in one kidnapping attack last year but has taken part in two this year, earning N600, 000 in one and N500, 000 in the other.
His determination that the newest kidnapping (a public servant) yielded N50 million, as well as the process of waiting for the ransom, resulted in their arrest.
He stated that he does not have a gun or arms, but when they have an operation, he normally contacts another group that does have guns and invites them to join.
Following the arrest of Chinaza Philips in Kaduna and his surrender to the FCT Command, the FPRO stated that the police did not execute the alleged kidnapper in order to conceal information about his other gang members, as had been implied.
While showing the injured suspect to the press, Adejobi said Chinaza and three other suspected gang members dispossessed their victim of his ATM card while on their way to Kano and withdrew N500,000 from his account using the ATM card.
In Kaduna, they stopped at a petrol station to buy fuel before police swooped on them.
During the gunfight, Chinaza was shot in the leg, three other suspected gang members fled, the abducted victim was freed, and the Hilux vehicle was recovered.
While admitting that Chinaza was currently on bail from a Kwali High Court after being arrested for abduction, the Force PRO stated that he skipped bail to commit the latest kidnapping crime.
Three accused gunrunners involved in the sale of arms and ammunition to criminal gangs, Ayuba Kamson, Samuel Musa, and Magaji Everest, were also displayed. They allegedly sold over 100 weapons, including pistols and AK-47 rifles.
The police stated they found 11 pistols and rifles on them.
Usman Yinusa and Samina Haruna, who claimed to have an operational base in Obajana and were responsible for gangs terrorizing Kogi and Kaduna states, were also presented as alleged gunrunners and kidnappers.
The IRT allegedly recovered two AK-47 firearms from them during their detention.
